Grand jury hears high profile cases

PARKERSBURG – Among those indicted Thursday by the January grand jury in Wood County were a man indicted on charges of murder of a child and three people charged with concealing a deceased body.

Matthew Edward Lamp, 29, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, was indicted on charges of murder of a child by a guardian or custodian and death of a child by a guardian or custodian in September 2012.

According to court records, the child in Lamp’s care was critically injured Sept. 30 at the 32nd Street home of his mother in Parkersburg. The child was taken to Camden Clark Medical Center and later taken by medical helicopter to Morgantown.

Detectives from the Parkersburg Police Department and Child Protective Services were called by hospital personnel.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim was left in the “care, custody and control” of Lamp.

Three people were indicted Thursday in connection with the concealment of a human body in September.

Victor Lee Thompson, 35, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail; Arthur Allen Thornton, 42, 3509 Sixth Ave., Parkersburg, and Crystal Dawn Smith, 38, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail, were indicted on charges of concealment of a deceased human body and conspiracy to commit concealment of a deceased human body.

According to court records, on Sept. 20, 2012, the three placed the body of Brandy Marie Adams, 25, in the trunk of her vehicle and drove the vehicle to the Seventh Street Car Wash in Parkersburg, where the vehicle was left. Officials said Adams died at 57 Meadowbrook Trailer Park in Parkersburg.

Police said the use of illegal drugs contributed to the victim’s death.